The Process

Stage-USA takes care of the entire process of an internship/traineeship placement in the U.S. It is difficult to find an appropriate placement on your own in the U.S. as companies are difficult to approach and persuade. In addition, the visa process can be complex. Stage-USA’s process is as follows:

Registration: You must register online through the form on our website. Without obligation and free of charge.

First contact: A Stage-USA representative will personally get in contact with you. Then, you make an appointment for an intake, which can be at our location in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, or via Skype. Skype ID: Stage-USA. Without any obligation and free of charge.

Intake: During the intake, we discuss your internship needs and explain the Stage-USA process. We want to gain an impression of you and your personal motivation.Without obligation and free of charge.

Selection: On the basis of the intake, we will decide whether we will begin a placement. To participate in a program in the U.S. you do not need to have the highest grades, motivation is essential. In some cases, we may decide on an additional interview in English. This will take place by phone with one of our representatives.

Program Agreement/Deposit:Based on the interview, a program agreement is drawn up. This agreement is an overview of the program. This must be signed in order to complete the registration. We request a deposit in the amount of €350. This amount will be deducted from your total mediation costs.

Collecting documents:Once the deposit has been paid, we can begin working on your resume, motivation letter, reference letters and grade lists. We will send you examples of the U.S. standard for these documents and provide feedback in order for you to meet the requirements. One of our representatives will guide you through this entire process.

Mediation: During this period, we will introduce you to several companies in the U.S.who suit your needs. We will keep you informed of the process until a possible match is found. Once we receive a positive response from a company, we will inform you of the details of the internship.

Pre-intake:Once a company is found, you will have an interview with them. Before this interview, we will prepare you by explaining what to expect during the interview and rehearsing certain questions you may be asked.

Interview: At this point you will interview with your potential internship company. You can ask any questions you may have about the internship and the company. Based on the interview, both you and the company can decide if there is a match.

Contracts and Payment:Once you are hired, the training contract is to be signed and the balance of the mediation must be paid.

J-1 Visa: Stage-USA has an in-house visa service. We do not outsource this to third parties, so all your documents are compiled in cooperation with us. In addition, we create a training plan that fits your study and internship needs. You will pay the U.S. visa fees for placement, which include your required health insurance and SEVIS payment, unless otherwise noted. You will also have to make an appointment at the U.S. consulate in your home country, which we will assist you with.

Housing: Approximately 2 weeks before your departure, we will assist in finding your housing accommodation. In most cases you will receive a list of possibilities. We recommend for you to stay in a hotel/hostel during the first night of your arrival in the U.S. to look at the available accommodations and make the best choice.

Flight: Last step is to book your flight. You have the option to book your flight through Stage-USA or, of course, on your own. Stage-USA is working with several airlines and often has slightly cheaper tickets available.